Academic Honors, Prizes, and Fellowships 1 their department in mid-May. Not all departments and programs offer ACADEMIC HONORS, PRIZES, departmental honors. AND FELLOWSHIPS College guidelines for departmental honors include the following four criteria: Dean’s List Departmental honors are awarded to no more than 10%, or, in small During each academic term, students who have earned a minimum GPA departments, one member, of the graduating majors (including all of 3.6 or better in 12 or more points of letter credit in the preceding term October, February, and May degrees); are placed on the Dean’s List. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.6 in major courses is expected The grade P is considered neutral when the averages are figured, and for a student to be considered for departmental honors; the dividing factor is reduced by the number of points taken for Pass An honors thesis or equivalent project of high quality should be credit. Students who have received grades of D, F, W (or UW pre-Spring required by each department or academic program in order to receive 2014) during the term are not eligible for consideration. In any given departmental honors; semester, the mark of YC (year course) precludes the attainment of Dean's List status until the grade for the entire year's coursework is Academic departments and programs consider both academic standing awarded. Students who receive the grade of IN (incomplete), approved and disciplinary standing within the College when awarding departmental in advance by the Committee on Academic Standing, are eligible for honors. Dean’s List only after all IN grades are changed to letter grades. Students who have been found responsible by the Office of Student Conduct and Phi Beta Kappa Community Standards for a violation of academic integrity will not be eligible for the Dean’s List during the term of the sanction. This academic society was founded in 1776 to recognize and celebrate friendship, morality, and learning. The Columbia College Delta chapter was formed in 1869. Each year, 10% of the senior class are inducted College (Latin) Honors into Phi Beta Kappa by faculty who are members of the society. Two The Bachelor of Arts degree will be awarded with honors in three percent are elected in the fall and the other eight percent are elected in categories (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) to the the spring. Selection is based not only on academic achievement, but top 25 percent of the graduating class. Honors are determined by an also on evidence of intellectual promise, character, and achievement undergraduate student's cumulative GPA for all work at Columbia, with outside the classroom. Academic achievement is measured by strength the top 5 percent of the graduating class being awarded summa cum and rigor of program, as well as by grades and faculty recommendations. laude, the next 10 percent being awarded magna cum laude, and the Students may not apply for Phi Beta Kappa nor may they solicit faculty remaining 10 percent awarded cum laude. for recommendations. College honors are the highest academic recognition awarded by the As with graduation honors, October and February graduates are College. There is no separate consideration of honors for October or considered along with May graduates. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is February graduates. The honor is officially noted on the diploma and noted on a student’s transcript. transcript of students who have graduated. October and February graduates may ask the Registrar to add an honors notation to an already The faculty Phi Beta Kappa selection committee considers both issued diploma. academic standing and disciplinary standing within the College when electing new members to the society. Both academic standing and disciplinary standing are taken into consideration when awarding College honors. While prizes are typically awarded annually, they are done so at the discretion of the respective selection committees. Hence, should a Valedictorian and Salutatorian selection committee decide, in a particular year, that there are no suitable candidates; the prize will not be awarded. Unless otherwise noted, these The Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes reviews the academic prizes are awarded to Columbia College students only. records of the most exceptional students nominated by the faculty for Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Selection is based not on GPA alone, but on the breadth, depth, rigor of academic program, high quality of General Prizes academic achievement, departmental recommendations, and outstanding ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD academic work beyond that which is required for the degree. (1947) A trophy, in the form of a Columbia lion, awarded annually to the member of the senior class who is judged to be most outstanding for The Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes considers both academic qualities of mind, character, and service to the College. standing and disciplinary standing within the College when awarding Valedictorian and Salutatorian. ALUMNI PRIZE (1858) Awarded annually by the Alumni Association to the senior judged Departmental Honors by classmates to be the most faithful and deserving. Departmental honors may be established and awarded by any Columbia CHARLES H. BJORKWALL PRIZE College department or academic program, and is recorded on a (1937) Established by Ottle Emma Bjorkwall in memory of her brother, Dr. student’s final transcript. Students should consult with their director Charles H. Bjorkwall. Awarded annually to a member of the senior class of undergraduate studies no later than the beginning of the first term for unselfish service to the College community. of their senior year if they wish to be considered for departmental honors. Students who are awarded departmental honors are notified by EDWARD SUTLIFF BRAINARD MEMORIAL PRIZE 2 Academic Honors, Prizes, and Fellowships (1920) Established by Miss Phebe Sutliff in memory of her nephew, who displays those qualities of outstanding scholarship and significant Edward Brainard Sutliff, CC‘21. Awarded annually to the member of the service to the College exemplified in the life of Leonard Pullman, CC‘62. graduating class who is judged by classmates to be most worthy of The recipient must occupy a position of responsibility in a nonathletic distinction for qualities of mind and character. Columbia College activity. JAMES CHRISTOPHER CARALEY MEMORIAL PRIZE CHARLES M. ROLKER, JR. PRIZE (1984) Established in memory of James Christopher Caraley, 1959–1979, (1909) Established by Mrs. C. M. Rolker in memory of her son, Charles M. CC‘81, by his family and friends. Awarded annually to that member of the Rolker, Jr., CC 1907. Awarded annually to the member of the graduating junior class who has demonstrated the greatest commitment to the value class who is judged by classmates to be most worthy of special of preservation of the natural environment or of world peace and order. distinction because of scholarship, participation in student activities, or in any combination thereof. ROBERT LINCOLN CAREY MEMORIAL PRIZE (1967) A trophy, in the form of a lion, awarded annually by the Alumni VAN AM PRIZE Association to the senior who, through a combination of leadership (1925) Established by the Class of 1898 on the occasion of its twenty- qualities as exercised in the non-athletic extracurricular program of fifth anniversary. Awarded to the member of the sophomore class who is Columbia College and outstanding achievement in the academic program most distinguished for service, character, and courtesy in relations with of the College, best exemplifies the ideals that Robert Lincoln Carey faculty members, fellow students, and visitors. A donation is presented to sought to engender in the students of Columbia College. the student activity of the winner’s choice. STANLEY I. FISHEL/ZETA BETA TAU PRIZE Established in honor of Stanley I. Fishel, CC‘34, who was president of General Academic Prizes ZBT while at Columbia and later national president, and who believed ALBERT ASHER GREEN MEMORIAL PRIZE in the important role fraternities can play in the development of (1913) Established by Mr. and Mrs. Asher Green in memory of their son, undergraduates. Awarded to an undergraduate fraternity member who Albert Asher Green, CC 1914. Awarded to the senior who has been a has demonstrated leadership, academic achievement, and participation student in good standing in the College for at least three years and who in athletics or other campus activities. has made the best record of scholarship. RICHARD H. FOX MEMORIAL PRIZE DAVID B. TRUMAN ALUMNI AWARD (1927) Established by Mr. and Mrs. Leon S. Fox in memory of their son, (1970) Established in honor of David B. Truman, former Dean of the Richard H. Fox, CC‘21. Awarded to the senior who, in the judgment of the College. A lion trophy donated annually by the Alumni Association to King’s Crown Advisory Committee, has shown to the College the greatest the Columbia College student who has made the most distinguished interest and helpfulness. The student must have participated in some contribution to the academic affairs of the College. nonathletic activities and must be one who combines intelligence with a kindly interest in his or her fellows. Prizes in the Core Curriculum JOSHUA A. FEIGENBAUM PRIZE IN LITERATURE HUMANITIES ROBERT SHELLOW GERDY PRIZE (2004) Established by Joshua Feigenbaum and awarded to a student (1969) Established by Mr. and Mrs. Irving Gerdy in memory of their son, who is judged by the faculty to have exhibited excellence in Literature Robert Shellow Gerdy, CC‘39. Awarded to that member of the graduating Humanities. class who, throughout the undergraduate years, has made a significant contribution as a member of the staff of one or more College student WALLACE A. GRAY PRIZE IN LITERATURE HUMANITIES publications, especially Jester, Columbia Review, and Spectator. (2004) Established in memory of the late Professor Wallace Gray and awarded annually to the Columbia College undergraduate who is judged ROBERT HARRON AWARD by the faculty to have written the best essay in Literature Humanities.